Rubberlike products and preparation thereof



Patented Dec. 5, 1944 RUBBERLIKE PRODUCTS AND PREPARA- TION THEREOF Arnold J. Moi-way, Roselle, N. J., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Jason, Incorporated, a corporation of Louisiana No Drawing. Application December 24, 193.6,

Serial No. 117,634

Claims.

This invention relates to novel rubberlike products and methods of preparing them. More particularly, it relates to the preparation of su1 phurized derivatives of high molecular weight polymers of iso-olefines such as isobutylene.

It has recently been discovered that plastic or elastic hydrocarbon products, the chemical,

structure of which may be represented'as being an extremely long chain of carbon atoms with a number oi! short side chains oi! alkyl groups and hydrogen atoms, the entire product being substantially saturated with respect to hydrogen, can be made by polymerization of iso-olefines, particularly isobutylene, in the presence of an active volatile halide catalyst, such as boron fluoride, at low temperature, i. e. below -10 C. and preferably as low as 50 C. or even 80 C. or lower, using a solvent or diluent such as liquefled propane or ethylene, etc. Such polymers can be made having a molecular weight ranging from 1,000 or 3,000 up to an intermediate range of 10,000 or 25,000 or up to a very high range such as 200,000 or 300,000 or more.

Althpugh these polymers are substantially saturated and are extremely resistant to oxidation and attack by common chemical reagents, such as sulfuric acid, caustic soda, etc., it has now been discovered, greatly contrary to expectation, that these polymers can be sulfurized or vulcanized to a certain extent.

Broadly, according to the present invention, this high molecular weight hydrocarbon polymer either alone or with a solvent for the p lymer is treated with sulphur monochloride (82012) or sulphur dichloride (S012) and heated to effect reaction.

Accelerators such as litharge, zincoxide, organic amines, etc. may'be beneficially used to accelerate the action of the polymer and the chloride of sulphur.

The products made according to the above process are somewhat rubber-like in texture and have greater elasticity and tensile strength than the original hydrocarbon polymer before the sulphurizing treatment. The products are also very resistant to various chemical agents such as acid. alkalies, oxidizing agents, etc. i

This product may be used in various ways, such as oxidation inhibitors, Sligh dispersers and pour depressants in lubricating oils due to its solubility in lubricating oils and its sulphur content. Itmay also be used as an extreme pressure blending agent for increasing the load-carrying capacity or a lubricatingoil in which it is blended.

The following example is given for the sake of illustration and without intention of limiting the invention thereto: a

10 grams of an isobutylene polymer having an average molecular weight 01 about 55,000 was' dissolved in 54 solvent naphtha and the solution was reacted in an autoclave with 0.5 gram of $2012 at about 100 C. (210 F.) for 4 hours. Upon evaporation of the naphtha, a dry elastic prod- .uct was obtained which had substantially greater elasticity and elongation than the original isobutylene polymer.

It is not intended that this invention be limited to any of the specific examples given nor to any theory as to the mechanism of the operation of the invention but only by the appended claims in which it is intended to claim all novelty inherent in the invention as broadly as the prior art permits.

I claim:

1. A synthetic rubber-like product derived by treatment with a chloride of sulfur of a polymerized isobutylene having a molecular weight above about 1,000.

2. A synthetic rubber-like product derived by treatment with a chloride of sulfur of an aliphatic polymerized isoolefine hydrocarbon resin having a high molecular weight.

3- A lubricant comprising a lubricating oil and a sulfurized isobutylene polymer, said isobutylene polymer having a molecular weight above about 1,000.

4. An extreme pressure lubricant comprising a lubricating oil and a 'sulfurized high molecular weight product of the low temperature polymerization ofan isomono-olefin added in amounts sufllcient to impart to said lubricating oil extreme pressure properties. said high molecular weight product'having a molecular weight above about 1,000.

5. A lubricating oil composition comprising a lubricating oil blended with a product formed by treating polymerized isobutylene of high molecular weight with sulfur chloride, said product being added to impart extreme pressure characteristics to the lubricating oil composition.

6 .A lubricating composition comprising a lubricating oil and a sulfur chloride treated hydrocarbon polymer of a molecular weight in excess. of 1,000, said polymer comprising a polymerized low molecular weight iso-oleflnlc hydrocarbon.

'1. A lubricant comprising a lubricating oil'and a sulfurized isobutylene resin.

8. An extreme pressure lubricant comprising a lubricating oil and a sulfurized isobutylene resin added in amounts sumcient to impart to said lubricating oil extreme pressure properties.

9. A lubricant comprising a lubricating oil and a sulfurized iso-mono-olefln poylmer.

10. An extreme pressure lubricant comprising a lubricating .oil and a sulfurized iso-mono-olefln polymer-added-in amounts suilicient to impart to said lubricating oil extreme pressure properties.

ARNOLD J. MORWAY.

2,364,382. 2 7 m" J. Mama REPARATION THERE Aug. 1, 1951 b 

